Episode 190 - What It's Like to be a Dog and Barking Mad Dog Holidays

What It's Like to be a Dog

It was very clear in my mind, and my dog training partner, Mark, in his mind, that we would do this in the most ethical way possible In fact we would go beyond what was legally required of us.

- Greg Berns

Several things came together to inspire Gregory Berns to think of using an MRI to gain insight into dogs' thought processes. In this interview he talks about his determination to treat the dogs involved with respect, and give them the choice to opt out if they wanted to. He also explains the behaviours the dogs were taught to perform, the exercises they went through, and what it showed was going on in those canine brains.

What It's Like to be a Dog will not only inform you, it will make you think about who you are as a person, and who the human race as a species are. Where do we fit in, and are animals really what we think they are - and more to the point do they get the treatment they deserve from us? You can find out more about this fascinating book at Gregory Berns' website.

Barking Mad Dog Holidays

We take over the whole farmhouse, it's a Tudor farmhouse, and people come along with their dogs and they get to try out lots of different dog activities.

- Sue Corfield

Sue Corfield enjoys activities with her dogs, a Border Collie and a Labrador Newfoundland cross, and she wanted to share that enjoyment with other dog owners. So she started Barking Mad Dog Weekends, where owners and their dogs can try out new activities, pick up new skills and socialise with other owners and dogs. The activities on offer include agility, Rally O, flyball, and more - and there's home cooking on offer in a Tudor farmhouse! Plus you can borrow a dog - either Sue's own dog, or a dog from a local rescue. The scheme has helped dogs find their forever homes.

You can find out more at the Barking Mad Weekends website, or at their Facebook page. And if you're looking to make a New Year's Resolution to get fit and healthy - or just to have more fun with your dog! - Sue's offering some extreme weekends in 2018.

DogCast Radio News

In the last DogCast Radio News of the year, you can listen to the s ory that dogs are red green colourblind, the way a Florida shelter is taking an innovative approach to rehoming dogs, inspired by Harry Potter, and how a dog - or two - came to be raising a rare Leopard cub. Plus the brave little Pomeranian who would not leave his friend in an emergency, the little Australian girl who got her puppy back from burglars, and how the tale - or tail - of the happiest dog in Scotland has some up and downs.

That's it for 2017!

As we look forward to 2018 - which will be the 17th year Buddy has known, and the 2nd for Mischief - we hope you all have a safe and happy end to the year. We're looking forward to sharing more of the dog world with you next year.

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